Scientific name: punica granatum
The pomegranate is originally native to Asia but has been grown around the Mediterranean area for centuries. It is the fruit of a deciduous shrub. The name means "seeded apple". Pomegranates have a hard outside layer that you cannot eat. The part of the pomegranate you eat is the juicy seeds. You can eat them raw, make them into juice, or use them in desserts or other dishes.